Wild Horse Winery
Celebrated the 15th annual Zinfandel Festival

As I drove through the gentle green pastures with the most beautiful horses - some grazing while others playfully trotted along - I knew that this would be a beautiful day for sipping wine and enjoying an amazing meal at Wild Horse Winery.  The rolling hills and vast acreage of wine grapes made for a graceful event held during the 15th Zinfandel Festival. 

The Irish band (above left) played music fit for Saint Patrick's day and even played an Irish wedding song.  Chef Andre (above right) offered dishes reminiscent of Roman times, from a delicious arugula salad, to a smoky gazpacho and award winning saffron-infused Piae (above right).   Topping this decadence was a crème Brule infused with citrus peel and marbled with cocoa.  Andre is currently teaching a series of  cooking classes.  For details visit the Dining with Andre website.

It is a gift to be able to do what you love in life as your profession.  As for wine maker Mark (above in the tie die shirt) who labels himself part rock star and part computer nerd I think he has definitely found his calling in life!   He moved to the area in 1995 and has years of experience under his belt which includes time spent throughout Spain and Morocco.  His experience is prevalent in the wines I tasted.  My personal favorite of the day was the refreshing 2005 Chardonnay.  Mark explained that they prepare the wines using old and new world techniques. 

The friendly staff and inviting atmosphere made me feel like a celebrity. And it was very nice to go for a tour of the wine making show room which was a nice retreat from the warm sun. 

I met some fellow wine lovers and had a wonderful experience. You have to come and experience this for yourself.  Whether your an experienced wine connoisseur or just curious about wine the staff at Wild Horse will be able to assist you..   For more information visit the Wild Horse Winery website.